ED crackdown: Daman Bootlegger’s premises yield incriminating evidence and Rs 1.62 crore in benami cash

Surat : The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has unearthed Rs 1.62 crore worth of benami cash including Rs 1 crore in 2000 denomination notes and incriminating documents related to more than 100 properties during the searches at the premises of the notorious bootlegger of Daman, Suresh Patel alias Sukha Patel under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

ED conducted search operations at nine residential and commercial premises in Daman (UT) and Valsad (Gujarat) related to Suresh Jagubhai Patel and his accomplices on June 19, 2023 under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

ED had initiated investigations under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against Suresh Patel  alias Sukha and his accomplices  on the basis of the cases booked by Daman Police, Gujarat Police and Mumbai Police against accused under various offences of Corruption, Possession of illegal firearms, Murder, Extortion etc.

Apart from these cases there are more than 35 cases registered against Suresh Patel and his accomplices at various Police Stations in Gujarat and Daman for offence of smuggling of Liquor, Murder, Extortion, attempt to murder, possession of illegal firearms, robbery, attacks on government servants, passport forgery etc.

Investigation by ED revealed that Suresh Patel and his accomplices created a web of companies. Most of the companies/firms had no business or very little business. They were created with a sole purpose of laundering ill-gotten money generated from their criminal activities viz. bootlegging, Extortion, Corruption etc.

It is revealed the bank accounts of Suresh Patel, his family members and the companies/firms controlled by him, has been credited with cash worth more than Rs. 100 Crore. Suresh Patel is accused in more than 10 cases of liquor smuggling into Gujarat, 7 cases of forgery & fraud, 8 cases of murder or attempt to murder, 5 cases of possession of illegal weapon, 1 case of corruption among various other crimes.

Sukha has been convicted in a case registered u/s 174-A of Indian Penal Code. Suresh Patel and his accomplices viz Ketan Patel, Vipul Patel, Miten Patel are currently in Judicial Custody in connection with a double murder in Daman in year 2018.

During the searches at the premises related to Suresh Jagubhai Patel and others which resulted into seizure of cash worth Rs. 1.62 Crore including more than Rs. 1 Crore in 2000 rupees currency notes, documents related to more than 100 properties which included sale deeds in their name as well as in the name of relatives name, agreements, power of attorneys etc., incriminating documents relating to firms/companies/ establishments and cash transactions, digital evidences and three bank lockers keys. The Physical and forensic analysis of seized evidences are ongoing.

Further investigation is under progress.